The House of Representatives is interrupting the summer recess for a debate on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. That decision follows after the Netherlands is accused by the Israeli foreign minister of “overt hostility” by instituting a travel ban for the ultra-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Gideon Saar, the Israeli foreign minister, summoned the Dutch ambassador Marriet Schuurman in Israel on Tuesday. In a conversation with her, Saar calls it regrettable that the Dutch government has chosen to turn a long-standing friendship with Israel into “overt hostility.”
The reason for this is the entry ban for the two extremist Israeli ministers, which outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp announced on Monday. He decided to do this because of the “intolerable and indefensible” situation in Gaza, he writes in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The House is interrupting the summer recess for a committee debate on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. A request from SP MP Sarah Dobbe received a majority on Tuesday, several MPs reported to press agency ANP. It is not yet known exactly when that debate will take place.
The VVD and the CDA want more information from the European Commission and the cabinet before the debate. The EU is also discussing possible sanctions against Israel on Tuesday. These will follow if the EU member states conclude that Israel has violated agreements made regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof has already said he will support such sanctions.